1991 Ford Probe

1991 FORD PROBE
149,750 MILES • 6 CYL • FWD • AUTOMATIC
Avatar
ADAMATROCITY
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
i stuck a screwdriver in my ignition (my father took my keys) and i figured blah it will work but i'm not sure if i messed the ignition switch up cause i still don't have the keys
and i used a paper clip to try to move the pins up but i don't know if there messed up because i just figured that when you stick the key in it moves the pins up and when you push it up it just falls back down (i didn't think of that till after i did the thing with the paper clip)
but if you could tell me if that would mess up the ignition switch or not that would be great
Aug 19, 2008 at 6:27 PM
Advertisement
Avatar
BLACKOP555
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 10,386 POSTS
you jam it in there or did it just fit right in there?

if you jamed it in there you could have ruined the ignition switch, if it fit right in there its probably still good, if you wanna get your vehicle running

you will have to drill out hte holding pin, then you can start it with a screwdriver.
Aug 19, 2008 at 7:56 PM
Avatar
ADAMATROCITY
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
it just fit right in
i really don't want to have to replace the ignition switch
but if it fit right in like it had move to jiggle around then its still good? and the thing with the paper clip didn't mess up the pins?
Aug 19, 2008 at 11:23 PM
Advertisement
Avatar
BLACKOP555
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 10,386 POSTS
then chances are the switch is in good shape, since you didnt jam it or ream on it. it is spring loaded so pusing on them wont help.
Aug 20, 2008 at 1:56 PM
Avatar
ADAMATROCITY
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
okay so your saying that since i didn't jam the screwdriver in its fine about that?
and that since the pins are spring loaded then that's fine as well?
by the way thanks for the help i appreciate it
Aug 20, 2008 at 9:53 PM
Avatar
BLACKOP555
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 10,386 POSTS
is all safe if there was no prying or jaming involved, when you push a key it the prongs go up and then back down into the spot its supposed to be, its the same principle of picking a lock only harder because of two sides.
Aug 21, 2008 at 8:50 AM
Avatar
ADAMATROCITY
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
welll we tried two screwdrivers 1 big one that barely fit in the hole and i trie dto turn the switch and nothing
so i pulled it out
then i small on that had alot of room to jiggle around and tried to turn it it didn't work so i pulled it out
i tried using a paper clip to pick the pins that didn't work cause i couldn't get the last pin to come up so i pulled that out and i used some long pointy steel thing and tried pushing pins up but it couldn't even fit in there so i didn't force it
i didn't force any of the objects in or out
the only thing i applied a small amount of pressure to is when i was trying to turn it but when i seen that it wasn'tgonig to turn i pulled it out
so everything's fine?
Aug 21, 2008 at 12:48 PM
Avatar
BLACKOP555
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 10,386 POSTS
by what you described to me, sounds like you did no harm.
Aug 22, 2008 at 9:04 AM
Avatar
ADAMATROCITY
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
alrite well thank you
my dad's bringing me the keys in about an hour so i'll tell you everything works or not and if it does then i'll definitely give a donation
Aug 22, 2008 at 10:21 AM